Pottery-shape for building-blocks



V A. CAMPBELL. I Pottery-Shapes for Building-Block's. No. 225,338.

Patented Mar. 9, 18-80.

i .1. a! v J N. PEIERS, PHOTO-UTHOGIIRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D. O.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUSTlNE oAMrBELL, on PERTH AMBOY, NEW JERSEY.

POTTERY-SHAPE FOR BUILDING-BLOCKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 225,338, dated March 9, 1880. Application filed December 27, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUSTINE CAMPBELL,

of Perth Amboy, Middlesex county, in the State of New Jersey, have invented certain new 5 and useful Improvements relating to Pottery- Shapes for Building-Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

Forms of pottery-shapes adapted for my purpose to serve as the main bodies are capableof being executed in dies by the forcing process-- that is to say, y forcing out the well-worked clayin a proper condition through an aperture or die having the desired form, and cutting it off, by a wire or other suitable means, into proper lengths. The form presents a generally-rectangular surface, with the side or face which is to lie at the front dovetailed across, so as to inclose and strongly hold a subsequentlyapplied piece. Thisface side is completed by adding a separatelyibrmed piece, which applies in the dovetailed recess, and thus obtains astrong hold on the other and main part, and extends outward, covering not only the recess, but also the wings or projections at the edges. The added piece makes a complete face for the block.

The added piece is preferably of green clay, attached by what is sometimes termed welding, by means of thin clayorslip, to the green clay of the main part previous to the burning, and then all burned together; but care must be taken to give unusual facilities for the drying before the intense firing is applied in the kiln. I

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification, and represent what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

Figure 1 is a cross-section, showing the main 0 body and the added part as they appear before joining. Fig. 2 is a corresponding section, showing them fully joined, dried, and burned together. Fig. 3 is a corresponding section, showing the rear cavity in the block filled with I 4 5 mortar or concrete. Fig. 4 is a front view of the main part before the added piece is applied. Fig. 5 is a view of the roughened back.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

50 The main body A is formed by forcing the clay out through a die. Additional marks, as

A, are used to indicate certain parts thereof. The main body is rectangular, traversed by two large rectangular openings, (marked a.) 0n the side which is to serve finally as the face a continuous wing or projection, A, is formed both on the upper and lower edges, with theinnerside undercut, as shown. These wings may be produced at the same time as the rest of the body by simply giving a corresponding form to the aperture in the die. The dovetail recess between is marked a.

The clay when properly worked is placed in the hopper of a die-press, and when subjected to the strong hydraulic pressure is caused to exude through the n'opei'ly-shaped orifice at the bottom, and is received on a suitably-yielding support below, in substantially the same manner as drain-pipes have been long manufactured. Sufficient material may be thus forced out at a single operation to make two or more of my shapes, the shapes being cut off in proper lengths by a wire.

B B is a separately-formed flat shape of similar clay, which may be similarly forced in a press through a die, so as to produce a cake or tile of green clay dovetailed on the back face to match the front face of the shapeA A, with dovetailed joints 0 c, as shown, and on the other face to present the proper panel or ornamelitally-molded shape which may be desired to appear on the exterior of the building.

The outer edges of the wings B should coincide with the outer edges of the wings A of the main body. Now, having these parts in a firm and approximately-dry condition, both alike, as nearly as may be lll'tllitt respect, the joints 0 e and the entire surfaces which are to apply together are wctted with previously-prepared slip, and when those surfaces have become just sufficiently softened and pasty the parts A and B are applied together by moving the part B inward from one side, and are left locked together, being preferably also held under a gentle pressure urging the parts together firmly until the union is perfect.

I scratch the back face, as shown, so it is better adapted to hold the mortar with which the interior of the building is covered preparatory to the coat of hard-finish.

The completed shapes thus formed, after being further air-dried to induce a uniform and dry condition, are piled in a kiln and burned. The burning may be conducted in the ordinary manner, except that the steaming-oft in the beginning of the treatment in the kiln should be more gentle and longer continued than usual, in order to allow the slight remaining moisture in the thick face part to be entirely dissipated before the intense burning heat is applied. With this precaution the face part burns practically uniform with the rest.

To oflset the greater strength due to the greater thickness of the face portion -of my shape, I fill the cavity a at the opposite side or back of the block with mortar or concrete and allow it to harden. This produces aeomplcte block which has great strength 011 its front and rear, a hollow interior and uniform shape, and any desired ornamental face.

Modifications may he made in many of the details.

My shapes may be used in the empty state, or all the spaces a may be filled with mortar. I propose, in constructing high buildings, to completely fill those used in the lower part of the front wall, and to leave those in the extreme top entirely empty.

I can burn the parts A A, a a, and B separately, and apply them together with good mortar; but I esteem the burning together far preferable.

I am aware that building-blocks have been before produced in two or more parts joined by tongne-and-groove connections; but such construction is not sought to 'be covered, broadly, in this application.

I claim as my invention- 1. The within-described process of forming pottery-shapes in separate pieces to serve as building-blocks, by first producing the hollow part A a with wings A, forming dovetailed recess to, and the part B with tongue to correspond with said recess, then drying each separately, wetting the surfaces which apply together with previously-prcpa ed slip, applying, pressing, and holding the parts together to form one homogeneous shape, subsequently drying again, and finally burning the block thus formed, all substantially as and .for the purposes herein specified.

2. The hollow pottery-shape for buildingblocks herein described, consisting ot the part A, having spaces a a and wings A to form recess a, and the separately-formed part B 13, having tongue, as shown, treated with previously-prepared slip, applied and burned togetlher to form a solid block, as herein specifiec In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 22d day of October, 1879, in the 

